Georgian MP says scrutiny of retail prices prompted strong opposition backlash

Georgian lawmaker Archil Gorduladze has said that the government’s focus on price controls after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze came to power triggered a sharp backlash from the opposition.

As reported by Caliber.Az, citing Georgian media, Gorduladze, a member of parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, made the remarks in a post on his social media page.

He referred to earlier statements by the prime minister, who said the government must examine the rise in food prices, noting that retail markups average around 86 per cent and may point to cartel-style collusion.

“As soon as Irakli Kobakhidze took full control, he addressed all issues stemming from people’s needs, including prices. We saw the hysteria that erupted among representatives of the ‘National Movement’: how dare you touch prices — you are attacking business!” Gorduladze wrote.

According to the lawmaker, former officials failed to combat such practices and instead used the system for personal benefit. He specifically mentioned former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and former head of the State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili.

“Garibashvili, Liluashvili, and others, instead of combating this legacy, were thinking about their own pockets and used agents not against the ‘nats,’ but to manage joint business interests and provide public relations protection,” Gorduladze emphasised.

He also said that one of the leaders of the United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili, was the only agent who was fully exposed and arrested by the authorities in full compliance with all legal procedures. Gorduladze added that society itself should draw conclusions from the situation.

By Tamilla Hasanova